The Last Member

Prologue

"Timabella, slow down!" Timabella's mother shouted from the next room. The ecstatic pup had been running all over, excited. "You'll hurt yourself if you're not careful."

Timabella simply couldn't slow down, however. She was far too excited to be still, for tonight was the night that she would achieve wolf form and be accepted into the rest of the pack. She jumped around on the furniture until she was snatched up by a pair of strong arms. 

"Timabella, mind what your mother tells you," Her father said as he hoisted her upwards. Timabella apologized, giggling. Her father chuckled as well. "I know that you're excited, but you have to save that energy for tonight if you are to have enough strength to achieve your wolf form."

This was the only thing that caused Timabella to calm down. She desperately wanted to be accepted into the pack that night, or else she would have to wait until the next full moon. She was the daughter of the alpha couple, and she knew she would have to transform or else the other pups would be accepted before her. That would be an embarrassing situation, in her opinion. 

She spent the rest of the day conserving her energy by playing quietly. However, as daylight began to fade and dusk approached, she began to return to her wild behavior, much to the chagrin of her mother, who shook her head at Timabella in dismay as she bounced across the furniture.

Once the moon began to rise, her father returned to the den, and with her mother he led Timabella to where the pack was waiting in the ceremonial cave. She was buzzing with excitement as the rest of the pack bowed to her when she entered. The pack then took their places in a circle inside the cave. She saw the moon appearing over their heads as she stood in the center of the pack. Her eyes glimmered with excitement and her eyes began to well up with tears. She was finally going to be a part of the pack.

Suddenly, a howl broke through the cave. Timabella's hair stood on end, as she did not recognize it as one of her pack members. Her parents and the rest of the pack became alert and on guard. They all transformed into their wolf form aside from Timabella, who had not been able to complete the ritual.  

The Blood Pack, their rivals, ran through the opening of the cavern. They instantly began attacking the pack. Growls, yelps, and the smell of blood filled the cave. Her mother and father stood in front of her, trying to protect Timabella from the rival wolves. The Blood Pack leader noticed Timabella and howled for the pack to capture the River Moon Pack's only child. Timabella froze in terror as nearly 30 wolves began to turn and run towards her. 

"RUN! THROUGH THE TUNNEL!! SAVE YOURSELF, TIMABELLA!! GET OUT AND DO NOT STOP RUNNING!" her mother shouted at her, her canine eyes wide in fear. 

Timabella unfroze at the sound of her mother's voice, turning and running as fast as her legs could take her towards the escape tunnel. She could hear the growls and snarls of her parents behind her, trying to fend off the other wolves. She climbed into the tunnel, which was too small for the other wolves to follow her through but just big enough for her to crawl through on her belly. She clawed at the dirt in front of her as she dragged herself out of the caves, the distant yelps and whimpers of her pack in her ears. Suddenly, an ear-piercing howl echoed through the air. It was a mourning howl, and it sounded like her father's howl. Her eyes filled with tears, knowing that her mother must have been killed judging from the heart-broken noise that came from behind her. The howl was suddenly cut off, followed by a victory howl from Blood Pack. 

They must all be gone... she thought to herself as she began to cry. The victory howl is only used when the other pack has been defeated. 

She considered turning back, just in case she was wrong and her pack was fine. She desperately wanted it to be true, but she remembered her mother's words and continued pushing forward as she began crying harder. When she reached the exit on the other side, she did just as her mother instructed and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Even when her legs cried out in pain, she still carried herself as far as she could until she eventually blacked out, her feet bleeding, her eyes red, her throat dry, and her mind distraught.

"Mother... father... please... please be okay..."

Then everything went dark.